A SENIOR county councillor has been reported to the Standards Board of England for allegedly breaching the authority's code of conduct.

Worcester MP Michael Foster has written to the Standards Board regarding Councillor June Longmuir's alleged failure to reply to his enquiries regarding school admissions.

Mr Foster has twice written to Coun Longmuir, who is in charge of education in Worcestershire County Council, requesting clarification on her admissions policy for county schools.

Coun Longmuir has failed to acknowledge receipt of the letters, from May 18 and July 23, which Mr Foster claims brings her office into disrepute.

The county council's Member's Code of Conduct states that councillors should not act in a manner that could reasonably be regarded as bringing their office into disrepute.

Mr Foster said it was the first time he had reported anybody to the Standards Board and that it was a step he took "very reluctantly".

He has copied his letter to the chief executive and cabinet of the county council.

"I have no alternative given the failure of Councillor Longmuir to respond to concerns that really matter to my constituents," he said.

"Even a brief acknowledgement would have done."

Mr Foster's enquiries related to the criteria used for determining admissions to Worcestershire schools, centring on the issue of catchment areas and proximity.

Miss Longmuir, who this week responded to an enquiry by the MP about Worcester's special schools, said she did not know the letters in question and felt Mr Foster was "electioneering".

"I don't know what he's talking about," said Miss Longmuir. "If it's about the operation of admissions then it would usually be dealt with by officers not members.

"I think there is an awful lot of electioneering going on."

The school admissions policy is published and approved each year by the county council.